Meet the Pitchers

We'll wrap up the Meet the Indians (part I has been updated now that the rosters are finalized), by going over the starting pitching and bullpen.

The Big Guy
CC Sabathia
The 6'7", 290 lb. Cy Young contender went 19-7, with a 3.21 ERA this season, and walked just 37 hitters in 241 innings pitched. He was money in September, going 4-0, 2.37. Sabathia is 1-7 lifetime against the Yankees, but he hasn't faced them in 3 years. Just as the Yanks have a much different lineup, Sabathia is not the same pitcher. He's now a force to be reckoned with. We're not even going to give the pitcher vs. batter break down since it's totally meaningless.

The Sinker
Fausto Carmona
The soon to be 24-year old suffered through a miserable '06 as both a starter and closer. His 1-10 record didn't carry over to this season, however, and he dominated, going 19-8, 3.06. He allowed just 199 hits in 215 innings pitched, giving the Indians a formidable 1-2 punch. Like Chien-Ming Wang, the sinker is Carmona's weapon of choice.

vs. Yankee hitters

Damon: 2-5
Jeter: 3-7, 1 RBI
Abreu: 2-6, 2 RBI
A-Rod: 1-7, 1 HR
Matsui: 1-3
Posada: 0-2
Cano: 2-7
Mientky: 0-2
Cabrera: 3-6
Giambi: 1-5

The ex-Yankee
Jake Westbrook
The Yankees acquired him as part of the deal that sent Hideki Irabu to Montreal in '99, and then dealt him the following season in the pennant clinching deal that brought David Justice to NY.

After winning 14 games 3 years ago, and 15 each of the last 2, the right-hander struggled to a 6-9 mark this season. His 4.32 ERA was on par of his career. He hasn't done well against his former team, going 2-4, 5.29, including a loss this season.

vs. Yankee hitters

Damon: 2-9
Jeter: 8-25 (.320)
Abreu: 1-5
A-Rod: 9-24 (.375), 1 HR, 4 RBI
Matsui: 5-11, 1 RBI, 3 2B
Posada: 5-13, 2 HR 9 RBI
Cano: 4-8
Mientky: 5-21, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Cabrera: 1-11
Giambi: 6-14, 2 HR, 6 RBI

Frasier
Paul Byrd
The Kelsey Grammer look alike threw the 4th highest innings total of his career (192.1), and matched his 2nd best wins total (15). He doesn't have a good fastball and that was his undoing when he met the Yankees earlier this season. He's just 1-4, 4.44 in 8 career appearance against the Pinstripes.

vs. Yankee hitters

Damon: 3-19, 2 RBI
Jeter: 11-27 (.407), 3 RBI
Abreu: 2-5
A-Rod: 4-15, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Matsui: 1-5
Posada: 3-18, 2 RBI
Cano: 2-8, 1 HR
Mientky: 6-19, 5 RBI
Cabrera: 3-5, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Giambi: 3-14, 1 HR

The Closer
Joe Borowski
No one will forget A-Rod's walk-off against him in April. The Bayonne, NJ native had a fine season with 45 saves, but did put up a 5.07 ERA. Has been hammered for 12 runs in 7 career innings against the Yankees.

vs Yankee hitters

Jeter: 2-2, 1 HR, 5 RBI
A-Rod: 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Posada: 3-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Giambi: 2-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Abreu, Damon, Matsui a combined 2-7


The Set up Man
Rafael Betancourt
Was the key to the Indians pen, posting 5-1 record with a 1.47 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched. Held hitters to a .183 average while only allowing 3 of 33 inherited runners to score. Was suspended in 2005 for using a performance enhancing substance.

vs. Yankee hitters

Damon: 3-4
Jeter: 2-6
A-Rod, Mientky, and Giambi are a combined 0-10

The Southpaw
Rafael Perez
His emergence as a lefty in the pen was a huge lift to the Tribe. The 25-year old posted 1-2, 1.78 numbers with 62 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched. Lefties hit just .145 against him. He's not allowed a run in 3 IP against the Yankees over 2 seasons.

Remainder of the staff:
Jensen Lewis, Aaron Fultz, Tom Mastny, and Aaron Laffey